Can-opener.



a. E. WILSON.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FiLED JULY3I. 19!?- 1 ,267,6 1 5 Patented May 28, 1918.

ATTOR N EY burrs STATES PA CORJA' E. WILSON, or CENTRAL-IA, WASHINGTON.

CA N -OPENER.

Specification of Letters laten't.

Patented ii'i es, 1918.

Application filed aih'y'si, 1917. serial no. is'sjree.

citizen of the United States, residing at Centralia, in the county of Lewis and State of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a can opener, and has for its primary object to provide for an opener of this Character, wherein dillerent sizes of cans can 'be'op'enecl thereby, without requiring excessive manual exertion, the knife and the lever for operating the same being easily adjusted for vary ing sizes of cans, and the cutting of the top of the can is effected without danger ot'injury to the operator, and'the edges of the opening in said top willbe perfectly'smodth to eliminate jagged formation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a can opener of this character, wherein the parts thereof can be readily separated for the quick and'easy cleaning of thesame so as to render the opener thorou'ghly sanitary. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of an opener of this character which is simple in construction, stroi'ig yet light in weight, compact, thoroughly reliable and eiticient in operation, quick in action, durable,a1id inexpensive in manufacture. I

lVith these and other-objects in view, the invention in its preterre'd'embodiment consists in the features of constructiomcomb'inat'ion and*arrangementof parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and pointed out in the claims/hereunto appended; It is to be understood that while the drawing shows a practical form'of'the invention, the latter is not confined to the strict conformity therewith, but may 'be'changed ormodified as 'lo'n as -such changes or modifications come withinthe scope'of the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention. showing by dotted lines a can in position for the opening thereof.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the operating lever released for the adjustment of the knife.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the fulcrum arm latched.

Fig. 4 'is a vertical sectional View through the knife and guide sleeve therefor.

Fig.6 ish detail view'ot the fulerum arm.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, designates afiat base preferably made from hard wood and of circular formatio1'1,-although it may be made from any other suitable material a'nd of any desirable shape.

Thebas'efi inthis instance has an offset portion 6 to which is fixed a vertical upright or framepreferably made 'from sheet metal bent-to provide panel 7 and a flange 8 at right angles thereto, the panel at its lowerniost edge being cut to provide a suitable securing ear '9 which is embedded in the upper race of the offset portion 6 of the ba'se'5 and'fastenedthereto in any suitable manner. The upright or frame is preferably of the shape shown in Figs. *1 and of the drawing.

Formed 'onthe panel '7 and bent there- From is a column 10 in which is formed a vertical post 11 for adjust'ably supporting the cutting mechanism of the can opener hereinafter fully described.

The cutting mechanism comprises a sub stantially "arrowhead shaped or triangular knifeblade -12, t'oi-med with downward convergent beveled cutting edges 13 and the piercingpoint or tip '14, the wider end portion of the blade 12 being slightly arched so that it will makea circular incision or hertwithinfthe top'of aca'n when the latter is brought into po'sition upon the :base and is rotated thereon for the opening of the can. Theblade 12 isotl' set from and inthe top of a'can placed upon the base 5 for the "opening of the can in a manner presently to be described.

Cir

Pivoted to the engaging end of the lever 17 is a fulcrum arm 19 which is resilient and at its free end is formed with a nib 20 for engagement in any one of a series of holes :21 formed in the panel 7 spaced from each other in a vertical row, the fulcrum arm being formed with a finger-engaging ear which permits the easy disengagement of the nib 20 from a hole '21 when it is desired to adjust the knife blade 12 so that the can opener will accommodate clifferent sizes of cans for the opening thereof, the position of the lever 17 and the fulcrum arm 19 therefor for the adjustment of the knife blade 12 being shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, while the engagement of the fulcrum arm 19- in the panel 7 0f the upright,

or f ame is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

In the operation of the can opener, the blade 12 for cutting the top of the canis vertically adjusted on the post 11 so as to permit the can, according to its size, to be placed upon the base in a position substantially as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and thereafter when the lever has been fulcrumed in its adjusted position and pressure is applied upon the lever the blade 12 is caused to penetrate the top of the can and on the turning of the can the blade will cut the top for the formation of an opening therein without any ragged orjagged edges, as the edge of the opening is perfectly smooth when formed by the can opener.

In the working of the can opener there is no possibility of injury to the user, and it requires the lcast possible exertion for the manual operation of the can opener.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation. of the can opener will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is 1. In a can opener comprising a base, a frame rising from said base, a post support in the frame, a cutter slidable on the post, and detachable therefrom, a lever pivoted to the cutter and having one end adjustably engageable in the frame at intervals thereof, and a fulcrum 'pivotally connected with the lever and adjustably and detachably engageable with the frame. 7

2. a can opener comprising a base, a cutter movable vertically relative to the base, a frame supported upon the base,a lever pivoted to the cutter and having one end adapted for adjustable engagement with the frame, and a fulcrum arm pivoted to the lever and having a nib adapted for detach able and adjustable connect-ion with the frame.

A can opener comprising a support, a lever having a fulcrum for adjustable and detachable connection with the support, a vertically movable cutter pivoted to the lever and a guide for. said cutter, said support being formed at intervals with slots for adjustably accommodating one end of the lever.

l. A can opener comprising a support, a lever having a fulcrum for adjustable and detachable connection with the support, a vertically movable cutter pivoted to the lever, and a guide forsaid cutter, said support being formed at intervals with slots for adjust-ably accommodating one end of the lever, and a linger engaging ear formed on the fulcrum for permitting the easy disengagement thereof from the support.

A can opener comprising a support, a post on said support, a cutter movable upon the post, a lever pivoted to the cutter, fulcrum means detachably and swingingly connecting the lever to the support, a sleeve on the cutter slidably embracing the post, a base for the support and forming a can rest, and a slotted flange on the support for adj ustably and detachably receiving one end of the lever to guide the same in its movement,

6. A can opener comprising a base, a frame fixed to and rising from the base and forming a panel and a flange at right angles thereto, a post fixed to the panel, said flange being vertically slotted, said panel being provided with holes arranged in a vertical row, a cutter having a sleeve slidably embracing the post, a lever pivoted to the cutter and having one end adapted for adjustable engagement. in any one of the slots in the flange. and a fulcrum arm pivoted to the lever and having a nib adapted for detachable and loose engagement in any one of the holes in the panel.

'7. A can opener comprising a base, a vertical post on said base, a cutter movable on the post, a lever carrying the cutter, a frame having slots for the end of the lever, and a series of vertical openings adjacent to the slots, and a fulcrum arm pivoted to the lever and adapted to be engaged with any one of the openings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CORA E. WILSUN fitnesses:

GEO. C. ELLSBURY, G. I. CUNNINGHAM.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. c. 

